University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, September 5
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
3-0-2, 0-0-0
4
vs
0
Wyoming
3-1-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Wyoming
0
0
0
Minnesota
4
0
4
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Pile Up Goals to Take Out Wyoming 4-0 at Home
9/5/2021 3:57:00 PM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota (3-0-2, 0-0-0 B1G) continued its undefeated start with a 4-0 win over Wyoming (3-1-1, 0-0-0) at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Junior forward Izzy Brown scored the game-winning goal on her way to a brace while Khyah Harper and Sophia Boman added insurance goals for the Gophers.
"[Going into this match] we talked about attacking assertively as a group," head coach Erin Chastain said. "To get a goal within the first minute today was big. Then to not shut off, sometimes you get that early goal you can let down a little bit but I thought we raised our level even more. We continued to create chances and finish those chances. We are certainly happy with the performance and happy with the shutout and really happy that so many young women were able to go in and contribute."
Minnesota's shutout streak extended to five matches with the victory and made history in the process. The fifth-straight shutout to start the season makes the Gophers just the second program in Big Ten history to post five-straight clean sheets to start a season, joining Rutgers who achieved that feat twice (2015, 2017). Wisconsin also achieved this, but prior to the Big Ten recognizing women's soccer in 1994 while Maryland achieved this in 2011 prior to joining the Big Ten conference.
The Gophers got the ball rolling early with a goal just 61 seconds into the contest when Izzy Brown fired home her first goal in the Maroon and Gold. Brown was assisted by Abi Frandsen, who sent the ball into the box before Brown pounced on the ball from point-blank range. The goal for Brown is her first of the season and gives Frandsen her first assist of the season.
Just seven minutes later it was Brown again who found herself in a dangerous position that led to a penalty kick opportunity for the junior. After drawing the foul, Brown calmly stepped up and buried the penalty kick for the first Minnesota brace (two goals in one game) since 2019 (Makenzie Langdok).
Minnesota's third goal of the first half was a special one for freshman Khyah Harper. The true freshman beat multiple defenders before smacking home her first collegiate goal in the 13th minute that was unassisted.
Arguably the best goal of the afternoon was Minnesota's final goal that came in the 34th minute of the first half. Sophia Boman found herself on the end of a perfect cross from Christa VanLoon and eventually sent the ball back across the net to add to Minnesota's lead. The four-goal first half is the first time since 2017 the Gophers have scored four or more goals in a half.
"It was about that mentality when we got into the attacking third," Chastain said. "Changing our tempo when we get into the attacking third. That's been something we have struggled a bit with. We have left some goals on the table this year so being able to make aggressive runs in the box, getting our shots off and getting on the end of good service was just great to see today."
Defensively the Gophers kept the Cowgirls away from dangerous opportunities throughout the match. Wyoming managed to have just five shots, none being on goal, to secure the clean sheet. Delaney Stekr made the biggest play of the match defensively in the second half when she sprinted back to make a tackle in the box that kept Wyoming from creating a quality chance.
Minnesota's next test comes on Thursday, Sept. 9, on the road against the University of Nebraska - Omaha. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start with the game being streamed on OMavs.com.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherSoccer) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2021 season.
"[Going into this match] we talked about attacking assertively as a group," head coach Erin Chastain said. "To get a goal within the first minute today was big. Then to not shut off, sometimes you get that early goal you can let down a little bit but I thought we raised our level even more. We continued to create chances and finish those chances. We are certainly happy with the performance and happy with the shutout and really happy that so many young women were able to go in and contribute."
Minnesota's shutout streak extended to five matches with the victory and made history in the process. The fifth-straight shutout to start the season makes the Gophers just the second program in Big Ten history to post five-straight clean sheets to start a season, joining Rutgers who achieved that feat twice (2015, 2017). Wisconsin also achieved this, but prior to the Big Ten recognizing women's soccer in 1994 while Maryland achieved this in 2011 prior to joining the Big Ten conference.
The Gophers got the ball rolling early with a goal just 61 seconds into the contest when Izzy Brown fired home her first goal in the Maroon and Gold. Brown was assisted by Abi Frandsen, who sent the ball into the box before Brown pounced on the ball from point-blank range. The goal for Brown is her first of the season and gives Frandsen her first assist of the season.
Just seven minutes later it was Brown again who found herself in a dangerous position that led to a penalty kick opportunity for the junior. After drawing the foul, Brown calmly stepped up and buried the penalty kick for the first Minnesota brace (two goals in one game) since 2019 (Makenzie Langdok).
Minnesota's third goal of the first half was a special one for freshman Khyah Harper. The true freshman beat multiple defenders before smacking home her first collegiate goal in the 13th minute that was unassisted.
Arguably the best goal of the afternoon was Minnesota's final goal that came in the 34th minute of the first half. Sophia Boman found herself on the end of a perfect cross from Christa VanLoon and eventually sent the ball back across the net to add to Minnesota's lead. The four-goal first half is the first time since 2017 the Gophers have scored four or more goals in a half.
𝒫𝑜𝑒𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 pic.twitter.com/l2X0ursEKi
— Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) September 5, 2021
"It was about that mentality when we got into the attacking third," Chastain said. "Changing our tempo when we get into the attacking third. That's been something we have struggled a bit with. We have left some goals on the table this year so being able to make aggressive runs in the box, getting our shots off and getting on the end of good service was just great to see today."
Defensively the Gophers kept the Cowgirls away from dangerous opportunities throughout the match. Wyoming managed to have just five shots, none being on goal, to secure the clean sheet. Delaney Stekr made the biggest play of the match defensively in the second half when she sprinted back to make a tackle in the box that kept Wyoming from creating a quality chance.
Minnesota's next test comes on Thursday, Sept. 9, on the road against the University of Nebraska - Omaha. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start with the game being streamed on OMavs.com.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherSoccer) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2021 season.
Team Stats
WYO
Minn
Goals
0
4
Shots
5
22
Shots on Goal
0
10
Saves
6
0
Corners
1
6
Fouls
7
11
Scoring Plays
Izzy Brown (1)
Assisted By: Abi Frandsen
GOAL by Minn Brown, Izzy Assist by Frandsen, Abi.
01:01
Izzy Brown (1)
Minn Izzy Brown PENALTY KICK GOAL.
08:06
Khyah Harper (1)
GOAL by Minn Harper, Khyah.
13:53
Sophia Boman (2)
Assisted By: Christa Van Loon
GOAL by Minn Boman, Sophia Assist by Van Loon, Christa.
34:49
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Defender
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Defender
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Defender
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